Breather reservoir of the gas holder type



C. A. ELLIS BREATHER RESERVOIR OF THE GAS HOLDER TYPE April 1 1941.

Filed May 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1, 1941. c, A, Ems 2,236,996

BREATHER RESERVOIR OF THE GAS HOLDER TYPE Filed May 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r a T "MI in, \o x w 3 %1 R Q s M Q Q Q) I INVENTQR, L BY C/LffO/Zf (I 15 Patented Apr. 1, 1941 BREATHER RESERVOIR OF THE GAS ER TYPE HOLD cum-a A. nun, Bidgeileld, N. J. Application May 10,1939, Serial No. 272,842 I 14 Claims. (01. 48-178) The invention relates to an improved breather reservoir for storage tanks to prevent loss by evaporation of the volatile liquid stored in the tanks. More particularly the invention relates to a breather reservoir of the gas holder type for receiving and temporarily storing excess vapors from gasoline storage tanks and the like.

Many attempts have been made in the past to conserve those vapors in gasoline storage tanks that are produced during the heat of the day so that they may be condensed during the relatively cool period of the night. Thus, breather roofs and breather reservoirs have been provided for this purpose. The present invention is an improvement on the latter and has for its primary object to provide a gas holder type of breather reservoir that can be connected to the vent outlets of one or a plurality of storage tanks to take care of the breathing of said tanks and which will discharge vapors to the atmosphere only under abnormal conditions so that loss by evaporation is reduced to a minimum.

Another object-is to provide a breather reservoir of the gas holder type wherein substantially the entire capacity of the same is available for receiving vapors under pressure and which will operate to return substantially all said vapors to the storage tanks.

Another object is to provide a breather reservoir of the type described having a diaphragm within the inner shell thereof constructed and arranged to move in opposite directions with respect to the holder bell of the reservoir.

A more specific object is to provide a breather reservoir such as described having a diaphragm within the inner shell balanced by weights in a raised position so that when the reservoir is inflated from an empty condition the diaphragm will be forced downwardly and the entire lower portion of the reservoir will be filled with vapors before the holder bell will be caused to rise.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double capacity waterless gas holder which will operate under pressure and also under pressure and vacuum.

With these and other objects in view the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts- Figure 1 is a-vertical sectional view of a breather reservoir of the gas holder type embodying the improvements of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a modified form of breather reservoir wherein a water seal is provided between the holder bell and the inner shell;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the holder bell in intermediate raised position with the diaphragm located in a corresponding intermediate position; and

Figures 4 and 5 are detail sectional and plan views, respectively, showing modified structure for connecting the holder bell with the diaserve one or more storage tanks which may store gasoline, naphtha or other volatile liquid. The vapor space of each storage tank is suitably connected to a common maintwhich in turn leads to the breather reservoir, providing a supply line for delivering vapors thereto and conducting the vapors therefrom. As shown in Figure 1, the said supply line, which is provided with an upright portion l0, extends within the inner shell ll of the reservoir and projects above the diaphragm within said shell so that the vapors discharged thereby will be confined within the space determined by the diaphragm and the movable holder bell of the reservoir. The shell Ii consists of a substantially cylindrical open top tank having side walls l2 and a bottom H.

The holder bell ii of the reservoir has substantially cylindrical side walls It and a domeshaped top H, the bottom of said holder bell .being open, and as is understood in gas holders.

of this type the said holder bell has telescoping relation with respect to the inner shell ll. Since said holder bell is'adapted to have vertical movement, means are provided for facilitating said movement and which likewise maintains the holder properly centered throughout the extent of said movement. The means consists of vertical members I8 suitably secured to the outside walls of the tank 20. As an alternative to this structure the upright. members l8 may be an chored to the ground. In any event, it is understood that the members are suitably supported may have a shape in cross section such as will provide a groove for receiving and guiding the rollers 2| journalled by projections 22 secured to the dome ll of the holder bell. The guide members are connected at their upper end by the horizontal members 23 and the superstructure may be suitably braced by means not shown.

A diaphragm formed in part 01' flexible gas impervious material 24 is located within the inner shell The outer periphery of the diaphragm is suitably secured at 25 to the interior of the walls l2 at substantially the mid-point in the height of said inner shell. A center plate 26 of metal such as steel completes the diaphragm, the same being secured around its edges as at 21 to the inner periphery of the flexible gas impervious material 24. A drain 28 of rubber or other flexible material extends from the center of the said metal plate to the bottom l4 of the inner shell and continues through the side walls of said inner shell and also the tank 20 to the exterior of the reservoir.

Figure 1 shows the diaphragm in raised or deflated position. Holding the diaphragm in this position, and which also permits free downward movement thereof, are means in .the form of counterbalancing weights 36 operatively connected by the cables 3| with the diaphragm at points 21. A pulley frame 32, extending across the top of the inner shell supports pulleys 33 over which pass the cables leading from the weights to the diaphragm. It will be observed that when the diaphragm is in raised or deflated position the metal plate 26 is located relatively near the pulleys 33 and the weights 30 are in their lowermost position. The cables and weights are in the nature of a block and tackle which permits full movement of the diaphragm from its position shown in full lines in Figure l to an inflated position where the metal center plate is in contact with the bottom I 4 of the inner shell, whereas, during this movement of the diaphragm the weights .will move a. distance somewhat less than half that of said center plate.

As previously explained, the supply pipe I ex- \tends above the diaphragm and accordingly the vapors from the storage tanks are delivered to the reservoir and conflned between the diaphragm and the holder bell. To prevent escape of the vapors a flexible apron 34 connects the interior wall of the holder bell with the top of the inner shell. In the place of the flexible apron it is of course possible to use a liquid seal such as shown in the device 01; Figure 2, in which case the liquid will be contained in the tank 26 and the cylindrical walls of the same will be increased in height to permit full movement of the holder bell l5. In both cases the seal permits vertical movement of the holder bell, but prevents the vapors from escaping from the chamber of variable capacity having as a top wall the vertically movable holder bell and as a bottom waill the diaphragm which is also vertically movab e.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figure 1 the weights 36 slightly more than balance the combined weight of the center plate 26 and the flexible fabric connecting therewith so that normally with atmospheric pressure prevailing the diaphragm will be held in a raised position. Therefore, when the breather reservoir is inflated from an empty condition the said diaphragm will first of all move downwardly until it has approximately reached its full inflated position before the holder bell will be caused to rise. The advantage in this arrangement resides inner shell of the reservoir.

The metal plate 26 is normally concave as regards the. upper surface of the diaphragm so that any moisture or condensate deposited on the plate will eventually be discharged through the flexible drain 28.

In Figures 2 and 3 a modified construction of breather reservoir is shown wherein a liquid provides the seal between the holder bell and the are conducted to the reservoir through the supply line It) extending within the inner shell 4| and above the diaphragm located within said shell. Said inner shell consists of a substantially cylindrical open tank having side walls 42, bottom 43 and which is positioned concentrically within a larger tank identified by numeral 44. The said tank 44 contains a liquid providing a seal for the holder bell 45. Said bell, which has substantially cylindrical walls 46 and a dome-shaped top 41, is adapted move vertically with respect to said inner shell. To facilitate this vertical movement and to maintain .the holder bell properly centered throughout the extent of said movement, vertical members 48 are provided. Said members are suitably secured at their lower ends to the tank 44 and are joined at their upper ends by the horizontal members 49. Said members 48 are also suitably spaced around the tank walls and may have a shape in cross section such as will provide a groove for receiving and guiding the rollers 50 J'ournalled by the projections 52 secured to the dome 41 of the holder bell.

A diaphragm formed in part of flexible, gas

' impervious material 54 is located within the inner shell 4| of the reservoir. The outer periphery of the diaphragm is suitably secured at 55 to the interior of the inner shell at substantially mid-point in the height of the same. A central plate 56 of metal such as steel completes the diaphragm, the same being secured around its edges as at 51 to the inner periphery of the flexible, gas impervious material. In this modification of the invention the diaphragm is operatively connected by cables 58 with the holder bell 45. Said cables pass over pulleys 59 journalled by the frame 60 extending across the top of the inner shell 4|. At one end the cables are secured around the edges to the center plate 56 and at their other end are joined to members 6| fitted to the lower end of the holder bell and which project from said lower end to provide journalling means for the rollers 62. Said rollers engage the interior of the outer tank 44 and in conjunction with the rollers 50 guide the holder bell in its vertical movement.

In the modification of Figures 2 and 3 it will be observed that the diaphragm in moving downwardly will impart equal but opposite movement to the holder bell. The operation is better illustrated in Figure 3 which shows the diaphragm located intermediate deflated and full inflated positions with the holder bell also being located in a corresponding intermediate position. The

The vapors from g one or more gasoline storage tanks or the like sealing liquid for the holder bell may comprise water which is satisfactory the year around in warm climates but where freezing temperatures are probable gas-oil or other low volatile liquid having a lower freezing temperature than water is preferred especially in the winter time.

Both forms of the invention provide a gas holder type of breather reservoir wherein the capacity is doubled by the use of a flexible diaphragm within the inner shell. In Figure 1 the amount of fabric 34 for sealing the holder bell with respect to the inner tank is a minimum since the fabric extends only to a mid-position in the height of the holder bell. Also with the counterweights properly adjusted to just slightly overbalance the weight of the diaphragm the reservoir can be operated at about fifty per cent capacity or under and all movement will be confined to said diaphragm In other words, with the counter-weights adjusted as. described the diaphragm will first move into full inflated position before the holder bell will be caused to rise;

In Figures 4 and 5 the side wall 42 of the inner shell 4| is provided at spaced points at the upper end thereof with a diagonal shelf portion 64 which supports the drum 65. Said drum is suitably journalled by the bracket 65 fixed to the shelf portion and in this form of the invention two cables, namely, 61 and 68, have attachment to .the drum. Cable 61 connects the drum with the lower end of the bell holder, whereas, cable 68 connects the drum with the diaphragm 56. The respective cables are attached to the drum in a manner so that as cable 61 winds on the drum, as when the bell holder 41 is being raised,

cable 68 will unwind therefrom to permit lower-.

ing or downward movement of the diaphragm. The purpose of the shelf and the drum having the two respective cables attached thereto is to maintain cable 68 dry at all times so that neither oil nor water, as the case may be, will be deposited on the fabric 54 comprising part of the diaphragm. As will be observed from the drawings, the cable 51 will be partly immersed in the liquid or water forming the seal for the bell holder. This cable when wound onto the drum will have the liquid squeezed therefrom but the liquid, however, will drop onto the shelf 64 which is so sloped as to drain the liquid back into tank 44.

The diaphragm for each gas holder has been described as consisting of a central metal plate connected to the cylindrical walls of the inner shell by an annular sealing member of flexible fabric or the like. It is possible to eliminate the metal plate, in which case the diaphragm consists entirely of flexible fabric. For reinforcing the central portion of .the diaphragm and which also applies a weight thereto, a metal ring may be used such as shown in my copending application Serial No. 272,841, filed May 10, 1939.

In the breather reservoir of Figure l the diaphragm is counterbalanced by the weights 30 which retain the diaphragm in an upper position when the pressure within the tank is atmospheric. Therefore the structure is adapted for operation on pressure only. By eliminating the counter-balancing weights entirely or by reducing their weight to an extent where the diaphragm will normally be located in its lowermost position the apparatus can be adapted for operation on vacuum as well as pressure. The holder bell I5 will move upwardly when gases under pressure are admitted thereto. For opdiaphragm will be caused to move upwardly so that the reservoir will have a fairly large capacity on both pressure and vacuum.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a breather reservoir of the character described, in combination, an open top tank, a diaphragm of flexible material located within said tank and having connection around its perlphery to the walls of the tank, a holder bell having telescoping relation with said tank and which formswith said diaphragm a reservoir of variable capacity, said holder bell providing the top wall of said reservoir and the diaphragm providing the bottom wall, means providing'a seal between the tank and holder bell preventing the escape of vapors from said reservoir although permitting vertical movementof the holder bell with respect to the tank, and means constructed and arranged to slightly more than balance said diaphragm to maintain the same in a raised position when the pressure within the reservoir is atmospheric or below, whereby said diaphragm will move downwardly within the tank against the action of saidbalancing means when the pressure within the reservoir is greater than atmospheric.

2. In a breather reservoir of the character described, in combination, an open top tank, a diaphragm of flexible gas impervious material 10- cated within said tank and having a gas-tight connection around its periphery with the, tank walls substantially mid-way of .the height of the tank, a holder bell having telescoping relation with said tank and which forms with said diaphragm and with the cylindrical walls of the tank a reservoir of variable capacity, the holder bell providing the top wall of said reservoirand the diaphragm forming the bottom wall, means providing a seal between the tank and holder bell preventing the escape of vapors from the reservoir although permitting vertical movementof the holder bell with respect to the tank, and balancing means constructed and arranged to slightly more than balance said diaphragm to maintain the same in a raised position when the pressure within the reservoir is atmospheric or below, said diaphragm moving downwardly toward an inflated position when a predetermined pressure greater than atmospheric exists in said reservoir.-

3. In a breather reservoir of the character described, in combination, an open top tank, adiaphragm of flexible material located within said tank and having connection around as periphery to the walls of the tank, a holder bell having telescoping relation with said tank and which forms with said diaphragm a reservoir of variable capacity, said holder bell providing the top wall of said reservoir and the diaphragm providing the bottom wall, means providing a seal between the tank and holder bell preventing the escape of vapors from said reservoir although permiting vertical movement of the holder bell with respect to the tank, said diaphragm including a metal plate located substantially centrally of the same, and counter-weighting means located within the tank and having connection with said central plate, said counter-weighting eration on vacuum it will be understood that the means operating to maintain the diaphragm under control during vertical movement thereof.

4. In a breather reservoir of the character .de-

' scribed, in combination, an open top tank, a ,dia-

phragm of flexible material located within said tank and having connection around its periphery toIthe walls of the tank, a holder bell having telescoping relation with said tank and which forms with said diaphragm a reservoir of variable capacity, said holder bell providing the top wall of said reservoir and the diaphragm providing the bottom wall, means providing a seal between the tank and holder bell preventing the escape of vapors from said reservoir although permitting vertical movement ofthe holder bellwith respect to the tank, a pulley supporting frame extending across the top of said tank, counterweighting means for said diaphragm located within the tank, and cables connecting said means with said diaphragm, said cables intermediate their ends passing over pulleys journalled by said frame whereby the counterweighting means move in a direction opposite to that of the diaphragm,

5. In a breather reservoir of the character described, in combination, an open top tank, a diaphragm of flexible gas impervious material loproviding the top wall of said reservoir "and the diaphragm forming the bottom wall, means providinga seal between the tank and holder bell preventing the escape of vapors from the reservoir'althoughpermitting vertical movement of the holder bell with respect to the tank, said diaphragm including a metal plate located substantially centrally thereof, a pulley supporting frame extending across the top of said tank, counterweighting means for said diaphragm located within the tank, and cables connecting said means with said central plate, said cables intermediate their ends passing over pulleys Journalled by said frame whereby the counterweighting means move in a direction opposite to thatofthe diaphragm. 1 6. In a breather reservoir of the character described, in combination, an open top tank form-'- ing a stationary part of the reservoir and which has connection with a supply line for supplying vapors to or conducting vapors from the tank, a vertically movable member within said tank,

sealing means of flexible, gas impervious material substantially cylindrical inform connecting said movable member with the walls of the tank at a point approximately mid-way of the height of the tank but below the terminal end of for the vertically movable member having loca-- tion within the tank, said movable member and sealing means therefor providing the movable bottom wall of the reservoir and said holder bell forr'n'ing 'a movable top wall.

In a breather reservoir of the character described, in combination, an open top tank forming the inner shell of the reservoir, a diaphragm;

.ment of the holder bell with respect to the tank,

and cables operatively connecting said diaphragm with the holder bell so that the diaphragm will move downwardly to aninflated position as the holder bell moves upwardly to an inflated position.

8. In a breather reservoir of the character described, in combination, an open top tank forming the inner shell of the reservoir, a diaphragm of flexible gas impervious material located within the tank and having connection around its periphery with the ide walls thereof, a holder bell having telescoping relation with the exterior of said tank, and which forms with said diaphragm a reservoir of variable capacity wherein the holder bell comprises the movable top wall and the diaphragm comprises the movable bottom wall, a liquid seal between the tank and holder bell preventing the'escape of vapors from the reservoir although permitting vertical movement of the holder bell with respect to the tank, and

' cables connecting said diaphragm with the lower end of the holder bell, said cables intermediate their ends passing over pulleys supported by the tank, whereby said diaphragm and holder bell moves simultaneously to vary the capacity of are" reservoir but in opposite directions.

9. In a breather reservoir of the character described, in combination, an open top tank forming the inner shell of the reservoir, a diaphragm of flexible gas impervious material located within the tank and having connection around its periphery with the side walls thereof, a holder bell having telescoping relation with the exterior of said tank and which forms with said diaphragm a reservoir of variable capacity wherein the holder bell comprises the movable top wall and the diaphragm comprises the movable bottom wall, a liquid seal between the tank and holder bell preventing the escape of vapors from the reservoir although permitting vertical movement of the holder hell with respect to the tank, a

pulley supporting frame extending across the top of said tank, and cables connecting said diaphragm with the lower end of the holder bell, said cables passing over pulleys iournalled by said frame whereby the diaphragm is maintained under control during vertical movement which is simultaneous with the holder hell but in an opposite direction.

10. In a breather reservoir of the character described, in combination, an open top tank forming a stationary part of the reservoir and which has connection with a supply line for supplying vapors to or conducting vapors from the tank, a

, vertically movable member within said tank, sealber with the lower end of the holder bell, said cables intermediate their ends passing over pulleys supported by the tank at its upper end, whereby said movable member is maintained under control during movement thereof and which is simultaneous with movement of the holder hell but in an opposite direction.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination, an open top tank, a diaphragm of flexible material located'within the tank and having a gas-tight connection around its periphery with the walls of the tank, a holder bell having telescoping relation with the tank, and means providing a seal between the tank and holder bell preventing the escape of vapors although permitting vertical movement of the holder bell with respect to the tank, said holder bell, tank and diaphragm providing a reservoir of variable capacity wherein the top wall formed by the holder bell and the bottom wall formed by the diaphragm are both movable in a vertical direction.

12. In a device of the character described, in combination, an open top tank, a diaphragm of flexible material located within the tank and having a gas-tight connection around its periphery with the walls of the tank, a holder bell having telescoping relation with the tank, means providing a seal between the tank and holder bell preventing the escape of vapors although permitting vertical movement of the holder bell with respect to the tank, and cables connecting with the diaphragm substantially centrally thereof and having operation to maintain the diaphragm under control during vertical movement thereof,

said holder bell, tank and diaphragmproviding a reservoir of variable capacity wherein the top wall formed by the holder bell and the bottom wall formed by the diaphragm are both movable in a vertical direction.

13. In a device of the character described, in combination, an open top tank, a diaphragm of flexible material located within the tank and having a gas-tight connection around its periphery with the walls of the tank, a holder bell having telescoping relation with the tank, means providing a seal between the tank and holder bell preventing the escape of vapors althoughpermitting vertical movement of the holder bell with respect to the tank, said holder bell, tank, and diaphragm providing a reservoir of variable capacity wherein the top wall formed by the holder bell and the bottom wall formed by the diaphragm are both movable in a vertical direction, a pulley supporting frame extending across the top of said tank, and cables passing over pulleys on said frame and having connection with said diaphragm, whereby vertical movement of the diaphragm is regulated and the diaphragm is maintained under control during said movement.

14. In a device of the character described, in combination, an open top tank'forming a stationary part of the reservoir and having connection with a vapor supply line, a vertically movable member within said tank, sealing means of flexible, gas impervious material for said movable member, said sealing meansbeing substantially cylindrical in form and connecting said movable member with the walls of the tank at a point approximately mid-way of the height of the tank but below the terminal end of the vapor supply line whereby said movable member and sealing vmeans comprise a diaphragm disposed transversely of the tank, a holder bell having telescoping relation with the tank to form with said diaphragm a reservoir of variable capacity wherein the movable top wall is formed by the holder bell and the movable bottom wall by the diaphragm, means providing a seal between the tank and holder bell preventing the escape of vapors from the reservoir although permitting vertical movement of the holder bell with respect to the tank, and cables having connection with said movable member for regulating vertical movement of the same and for also maintaining control of said member during said movement.

CLIFFORD A, ELLIS. 

